Mar.26 (GMM) Max Verstappen says Red Bull’s place as the third force behind Mercedes and Ferrari has been made obvious to the world in Melbourne. “We are behind,” the Dutchman said after qualifying. “We lack grip and engine power.” The team has been warning for weeks that it is not on the top two teams’ […]
Lowe defends Stroll amid bad debut F1 weekend
Mar.26 (GMM) Paddy Lowe has leapt to Lance Stroll’s defence, as the teen rookie struggles through his first race in formula one. After making notable mistakes in winter testing, 18-year-old Stroll – whose father Lawrence is a billionaire – crashed again in Melbourne practice and lines up dead last on Sunday’s grid. But Williams technical […]
Drivers happy with ‘8G’ new-generation F1 cars
Mar.26 (GMM) F1 drivers say the cars of 2017 are living up to expectations. Laptimes in qualifying were far from the predictions of 4-5 seconds per lap faster, but Max Verstappen said that kind of speed can be expected on circuits other than Melbourne. So when asked if the ‘new’ F1 is on track, the […]
Alonso could quit McLaren mid-season – Webber
Mar.26 (GMM) Mark Webber thinks his long-time F1 friend Fernando Alonso could soon quit McLaren. Australian Webber, who is now a television pundit, said in Melbourne that the third year of struggling with McLaren-Honda could be the imminent tipping point for the talented Spaniard. “Alonso may not stay with the team,” he told the Belgian […]
Giovinazzi can ‘change his life’ on Sunday – Liuzzi
Mar.26 (GMM) Former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi has hailed the return to the grid of an Italian driver. Liuzzi, and his countryman Jarno Trulli, were the last two Italians in F1, but that changed suddenly in Melbourne when Antonio Giovinazzi got the shock call to replace unfit Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber. Liuzzi, now 36 and […]
Sauber talks start amid McLaren-Honda split rumours
Mar.26 (GMM) McLaren and Honda could now be on a fast track to F1 divorce. Paddock speculation in Melbourne is rife that, now into its third year of an unsuccessful works collaboration with Honda, the great British team’s patience with the Japanese carmaker is up. That frustration is palpable in the team’s top driver, Fernando […]
Wehrlein sure of Sauber return in China
Mar.25 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein on Saturday said he is confident he will be fit enough to return to his Sauber in China. Although he told the German press he was in “no pain” in Melbourne following his back injury nine weeks ago, Wehrlein explained it was simply a lack of physical fitness that prompted his […]
Alonso rules out quitting amid Honda crisis
Mar.25 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has ruled out calling it quits amid the McLaren-Honda crisis. Asked how he is coping with a third consecutive year with an unreliable and uncompetitive Honda power unit, he told Corriere della Sera: “I have the answer — you work hard. “I am going? Where would I go? What would I […]
Jos Verstappen fears for Vandoorne career
Mar.25 (GMM) Jos Verstappen has added to the widespread criticism of McLaren’s hapless works engine partner Honda. The former F1 driver, and father of Red Bull sensation Max Verstappen, might already be frustrated that Mercedes and Ferrari have emerged in 2017 ahead of his son’s camp. “So far we meet expectations, with Mercedes in another […]
Honda engine rebuild to take ‘two months’
Mar.25 (GMM) Honda has acknowledged the need to rebuild its hapless 2017 power unit. Amid rumours works partner McLaren is considering dumping its Japanese partner, reports say Honda is starting work on a major upgrade. “The difference in power with our rivals is big,” Honda’s F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa is quoted by Spanish newspapers including […]
Lauda hails ‘pink’ F1 sponsor publicity coup
Mar.26 (GMM) Niki Lauda has hailed the publicity coup pulled off by Force India and its new major sponsor. It is believed Austrian water company BWT paid $20 million to have the Silverstone based team paint its 2017 cars and the drivers’ helmets pink. “I don’t feel good in pink,” admitted 20-year-old team driver Esteban […]
Ecclestone hopes for strong Ferrari in Australia
Mar.25 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone is not in Melbourne, but from a distance he made clear his fingers are crossed for a strong Ferrari in the 2017 season opener. “I really hope they will be strong,” said the former F1 supremo, who according to La Gazzetta dello Sport is currently in Brazil, the native country of […]
McLaren can win without Honda – Coulthard
Mar.24 (GMM) Former McLaren driver David Coulthard has hinted the great British team must contemplate dumping Honda. There are claims that despite the millions in sponsorship brought by Honda, not to mention the free engine supply and manufacturer support, McLaren is nonetheless considering reverting to a customer engine deal with Mercedes. Coulthard, who drove for […]
Mercedes removes trick suspension voluntarily
Mar.25 (GMM) Mercedes has “voluntarily” removed its controversial suspension system for the Australian grand prix. It follows Saturday’s news that, following complaints about the active suspension-mimicking technology from Ferrari, the FIA told Red Bull to take off a similar system. But Auto Motor und Sport says that while Mercedes’ version is technically legal, the team […]
Sauber replaces Wehrlein with Giovinazzi
Mar.25 (GMM) Pascal Wehrlein will sit out the rest of the 2017 season opener in Australia. The German got FIA medical clearance to participate in Friday practice following his winter back injury. But Sauber announced early on Saturday that it has “decided to replace” the 22-year-old for qualifying and the race with Ferrari reserve Antonio […]
Brawn ready to ‘fight’ as pecking order unfurls
Mar.25 (GMM) Ross Brawn says he will be keeping an eagle-eye on the track in 2017, starting with this weekend’s Australian grand prix. In Melbourne, bold new regulations producing much faster cars are having their maiden competitive outing, but Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton looks set to dominate. That is despite the fact that, in the winter, […]
One upside to Vasseur’s exit – Prost
Mar.24 (GMM) There is an upside to the departure of Frederic Vasseur as Renault team boss. That is the claim of F1 legend and Renault team advisor Alain Prost, referring to Vasseur’s surprise exit ahead of the 2017 season. Last season, now former Renault driver Kevin Magnussen hinted at political turmoil within the team, with […]
MotoGP better than F1 – Marquez
Mar.24 (GMM) Top MotoGP racer Marc Marquez says he is glad he excels on two wheels rather than four. “I would never have the motivation to be a formula one driver,” the Spanish triple world champion told Germany’s Sport Bild. “Just a few years ago, we (MotoGP) were looking at formula one as the model […]
Only Red Bull changed suspension system
Mar.24 (GMM) Red Bull was the team most affected by a clampdown on controversial suspension systems ahead of the Australian grand prix. That is the claim of the latest media reports, amid paddock speculation in Melbourne that both Mercedes and Red Bull had to take ‘active suspension’-mimicking systems off their cars after winter testing. But […]
Brawn defends diluting F1 ‘exclusivity’
Mar.24 (GMM) Ross Brawn thinks F1 can afford to dilute some of its “exclusivity” in order to bring the fans closer to the action. A debate is now raging about new owner Liberty Media’s decision to start selling access to the paddock, which until now has been a closely-guarded inner sanctum for VIPs and the […]